Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-05-31
LITTER FROM THE wEar0Or
METROPOLIs.
PORTLAND, NAV II. 1887.

<saoJ lOOls
EDITOR OF THE WORLD: The
snooze which SO abruptly terminated
a former communication developed
into stupor which, l surnise, YOU
already consider as being of unusual
~ protracted duration. l have read
somewhere that genius is capricious,
and why not explain my silence by
ascribing it to the whim of the god or
goddess who presides over the quill.
limitations are SO common now-a-days
that one may be pardoned posing as
a genius by the mere aping of the &C.
centrlcltles that attach to person
ranking among the illustrious few.
Besides, after all, it requires genius
to observe a discreet silence-some-
times. If you have not already prov
ed the truth underlying this state
ment, sling no more ink until you
have studied the question and de-
clared me philosopher. Imagina-
ton ignores the item of distance as |
urbanely salute you in response to
your hearty Endorsement of the latter
clause!
Don't you know, when one is on
the ramble, the mind is very apt to
follow suit, and it requires quite an
effort to compel thought to travel
where the will dictates. This reflec-
ton will tend to explain my some
what aggressive Introductory.
Huntington seemed dead and dull
as far as / could see, or CLEAN from
casual remark. The towns along the
route of the O. r. & N. Co. showed
signs of activity, and business is thriv-
ing. Baker City people spoke cheer
fully, and were apparently satisfied
with the present and future outlook.
Portlanders are evidently anxious to
impress outsiders with the importance
of securing real estate at the present
figure, as l conversed with several
passengers on their way from provin-
cial towns to the "Queen of the
Northwest" to invest. PendietoI
seemed gay with its imposing resi-
dences and the traffic in it's street s
Several passengers spoke enthusias
tically of Spokane Falls as rising
town, and informed your correspon
dent that real estate boom is on th'
city. l have since heard several citi
zens of Portland express confidence
in the future of Spokane Falls, VIII
have proved their belief by securin,
property in real estate there. TIL
ride on the cars through the densel
timbered country surrounding tn
summit was full of interest, and al
: forded subject matter for reflectio
7 and comparison. What a chang
3 this single track of iron, with Ii
I snake-like windings, is destined to et
: feet on the hitherto undeyeloped traC
of forest and mountain fastnes
It Splendid streams, alive with the fiji
:, ny tribe, are now within easy reac
n of the lover of Izak Walton's art, an
n instead of the barbarous spear an
> other uncouth methods practiced /
is the aborigines, the poor untutored f'
n will be subjected to the extermina
l. ing refinement of fly and barb al
reel. Alas for civilization. 1t 8
l. ways makes life hard for the weak
l. side-man and fish included.
J. As the train emerged from t
t. shadows of the forest, out among t
Is gently rolling hills of the Umatil
,e reservation, his must have been bs
Mt rem mind who failed to be inspir
at by the scene. The prince of grazil
no fields in the United States is this Fl
IN tract of country set apart by Un'
,h Sam for the remnant of valia
a tribe, the last of race that has
ch ways heard the sigh of the Great Sp
en- it in the 'sough' of the forest, and
n voice in the thunder of the waterfi
ty Large bands of horses browsed on
he rich green slopes, with here and tn
to an Indian horseman near. F'urtl
on we sight band of mounted W
riors, minus the paint and spear,
III loping towards camp, the crimson
ny their picturesque attire presenting
ed weird contrast to the vernal sea
'er green and the tremulous rays of
a'- den light that tinged the gather
In shades OF evening with richest hu
ter One almost wished civilization
vas back for century, and longed
am the excitement of scalp hunt "
SIX its attendant honors. How of